Chapter 10: Banshee

Chiri yawned. Night patrol was not only a lengthy undertaking, it was tremendously dull. Serving time for her rogue actions, Chiri had walked the Alliance campus for weeks. Akin to a vengeful spirit she loitered its halls, lawns and perimeter throughout the darkest hours. During which time, the only highlights of note had been limited to a handful of tasks: including collecting snails from the grounds, moving equipment, and delivering notes to and from various persons.

Leaning against the grey stone of the battlement, Chiri watched as the sun crept over the horizon. The rays of its ascent lit the trees far beyond the Ineset boundary. Their leaves taking on a warm glow, which hinted that the season’s eminent change was nearing. Rustled by a crisp breeze they swayed on the backdrop of a pink morning sky. Signaling that her duties were drawing to a close, she paused briefly to acknowledge the view.

Completing a final lap of the perimeter wall, Chiri descended the rickety wooden stairs of the watch tower. Creaking underfoot, each step spiraled downwards. Every second level connecting with different offshoots. They lead to the covered levels of the outer wall, aerial walkways into the observatory or upper levels of the main building and continued to descend, until they eventually hit upon the guard quarters and holding cells. Passing through a curved doorway, Chiri treaded across an expanse of short manicured lawn. Before, entering a passageway connecting the training facilities with the Twilight gate and main building.

Moving with all of the grace and elegance expected of a person of noble birth. Chiri’s long confident gate was punctuated by the sound of her heeled boots as they clicked decisively. The noise echoing from the high ceilings, it travelled through the marble corridors announcing her approach.

People just beginning to commence their day tried their best to ignore Chiri whenever they came across her. Scuttling past, veering away, or even completely retreating in the opposite direction once they recognized her. It seemed as though to cross paths with her was an ill omen, one which they sought to desperately avoid at any cost.

There were relatively few who did not know of Chiri Krane within the Alliance. Once, the upcoming genius of the Day Gate, Chiri Crouse, her fall from grace had been legendary. While many versions of her downfall circulated the Four Gateways Alliance, the most popular amongst them remained: Driven mad by an insatiable desire for power, Chiri Crouse, committed a crime so heinous that her natural gifts had abandoned her completely. Some even went as far to say she had exchanged her soul to surpass human limitations, others preferred to say that she stole them. However, all were just as terrifying in nature.

Although, choosing to adopt dark magic was deemed an appropriate excuse for social banishment within the mage community, it was not illegal. It was actually the technicality of sacrificing her family name in order to wield said dark magic that made her a criminal. Names holding such great significance in the summoning abilities of mages, to conduct the practice of magic without a full name was dangerously unstable. Therefore, for obvious reasons ancient law mandated it to be a considerable offense to attempt or even plot to cast a spell if you were not in possession of both a given and surname.

Punished severely by the Elder Mages, Chiri carried the brand of a Dhryzic and was imprisoned for over a year by the Alliance. A sentence that would have been served for life; had she not been taken in by Cazer. Here, in the main halls of the Alliance, she was a walking cautionary tale, causing people to look on in horror as she roamed its halls freely. In the Night Gate she was their disgrace, spitting and cursing her presence was commonplace amongst their ranks. However, their opinions were inconsequential to Chiri, she had come to accept that abhorrence was simply easier for them.

Nearing the end of another hallway, but still further than she preferred from bed. Chiri felt a telling crackle of static envelope her. The air becoming warm and tense, to the point where she could almost feel it on her fingertips. Chiri’s body still remembered this power all too well. The nostalgic pulse of energy excited her blood. Her heartrate quickening in anticipation.

A sudden streak of lighting alleviated the pressure building in Chiri’s chest. Flashing in a fit of fractured bolts the attack had struck the tiles barely an inch from the scuffed point of her shoe. Her course halted by the spontaneous assault, Chiri remained poised. Back and head perfectly straight, she stood unmoving in the center of the hall. Gaze calmly fixed ahead, the phenomena seemed as insignificant to her, as one might find a passing breeze.

“Banshee!” cried a young man’s voice from behind her.

Chiri sneered. To be yelled at so blatantly this early in the morning, and by such a vexing nickname at that, was beyond irritating. ‘Banshee’ was the pet name the Alliance had given her. Although alternative forms of address were not rare within the Alliance, they typically sprung from war stories or acknowledgement of magic prowess, rather than necessity. Coupled with Chiri’s physical appearance and reputation, she had earned the alias before even having been adopted by the Night Gate. The label rose in popularity exponentially as gossip about the former Chiri Crouse became widespread among members of the organization.

Usually undisturbed by names or slurs, it was not the form of address which bothered Chiri. Rather, she was annoyed to hear this person in particular call her such a name. It was unnecessary for her to turn in order to confirm their identity. The voice, so much like a ghost from her past it was too deeply engrained in her memories for her to ever forget it. “Banshee! Look at me!” He shouted again. Distress beginning to reveal itself in the uneven notes of his broken tone.

Chiri did not want to see his face. Not with it twisted into the same look of contempt she received from others. It was impossible they should never set eyes on one another again. Still, Chiri was unwilling to come to terms with this eventuality for the time being and remained stubborn in her lack of acknowledgement.

Taking another step forward, her progress was obstructed again by another bolt of lightning. Producing a loud clap as it cut through the thick air with a thunderous bang. The sound resounded through the corridor. Inevitably, attracting the attention of a small group of trainees. Barred from their morning classes by the display. They found themselves unexpected bystanders to the impromptu clash.

Concentrating on the currents of uninhibited electricity beginning to multiply. Chiri, merely noted their proximity. Not accounting for who might be amongst them. Considering their arrival to be potentially problematic, she refrained from any additional movements that might provoke another volley of lightning.

Becoming rigid as soon as a girl stammered fearfully from among the group. “H-Horus?”

“Butt out Morose!” The boy barked at her angrily.